ACE FREHLEY's 17 Greatest Guitar Techniques!

[@CrazedFandango]

Ace Frehley was the reason I started playing guitar.

[@momoney2720]

pretty much the same for me (and a bit of Angus)

[@TheTojocat]

he was my influence also, played a les paul even though i hated it, played it until i loved it

[@onlyfromadistance7326]

Me too, about '76. Also discovered what 'lust' was from a black Les Paul Custom at the local music store while i had a Sears beginer acoustic.

[@davelanciani-dimaensionx]

Yep - Ace and Tony Iommi were my first and greatest heroes back in the day. Kiss Alive was one of the first rock records I bought back in 1975 when I was 12 years old. Huge influence.

[@trustobey1016]

Same here

[@SheepHairOG]

Ace Frehley is a drastically underrated guitar player.

[@daves4645]

By who?

[@kuriaki71]

Underrated song writer too

[@MrClassicmetal]

More like the other way around.

[@alexanderwijnen7066]

Wel boys i was a ace fan the first time i saw that guy on tv back in 77 he is the reason i mest my live up playing guitar drums and all the otherthings but ace was just fine as a g.player or performer nothing less nothing more.rhe guy doesn't knoew what he's doing haha.tolld bij himself.

[@xChrisN1975x]

You mean Bob Koolick. That’s who played Aces licks.

[@FigureInMind]

I think Ace Frehley got a lot of people in guitar.. you can say what you want about KISS and Gene and Paul but you cannot deny Ace Frehley his style is incredible..

[@80sruler]

Danny Majors he’s the Don Felder of KISS !

[@leokimvideo]

Ace Frehley got so many people in guitar who went on to becoming major musicians. Whats many people never understand how influential he is. They prefer to explain he's not a perfect player. But it's those imperfections that make him a real rock god. Ace brought to Kiss a signature sound, and more importantly a cool persona that was so different to Paul, Gene and Peter. He was also able to knock out a very solid rock song. Sadly being with Kiss had him listed under Gene and Paul when it came to whose songs would end up on Kiss albums. That left Ace with the best songs for his amazing first solo album.

[@jackstonge]

You are right man.Ace is the KING OF ROCK AND ROLL!

[@kevinleonard2368]

@leokimvideo Actually, KISS wanted ACE to contribute songs for every album and did NOT limit the amount they put on records. ACE himself said that once he knew they were gonna do solo albums, he hoarded all his best stuff for it.

[@TommySG1]

Kevin you're right, I heard him say that on an interview 🤙

[@luvittodeath7031]

@@kevinleonard2368 yeah, rock and roll over didn’t have any writing credits from Ace because he was saving them for the solo.

[@stevescontriano860]

He probably got a lot of them into booze and Dope

[@LSchulz1414]

Ace Frehley is the kind of guitarist, who makes you want to play the guitar. He has this cool sounding riffs and solos, that some kind of invite you in.

[@cloudlounger6903]

You said it RIGHT!!!!

[@larylhuntington5398]

Ace was one of the reasons I picked up a guitar back in 79. Still playing today. I don't see how anyone can put a dislike on here unless it was pure jealousy. This vid rocks and I have always wanted to find these techniques out. Thanks man. Keep on playing.

[@steadyflow3790]

Jealousy? LMAO That music is complete garbage if you want to call it music.

[@marck8899]

@@steadyflow3790Snobbery in the finest form you are Sir. You sound like a lot of fun to hang around with, lmao.

[@jamesrockford2626]

Ace in his prime was one of the best ever

[@buddyollie7400]

Hey Jaimie :)

[@SelectCircle]

Chops-wise? - No way. But in terms of sheer EXCITEMENT? - Definitely maybe. : )

[@jackspradt1562]

@@SelectCircle chops wise? LOL, now do jimmy page, keith richards, hendrix, etc etc.

[@jamesball5743]

lmfao no

[@MusicStudent1]

Guys, try playing along with 100,000 years. Then tell me his chops were sub-par.

[@takfam07]

Excellent guitarist and teacher. Above all I appreciate that he's constantly showing what to do--while explaining. A lot of otherwise good guitar teachers fall in love with hearing themselves talk. Don't get me wrong, I love talking about guitar playing. But when it comes to online one-way lessons, showing is everything. This guy has the right balance and ties every section to the bigger picture of what you're trying to achieve.

[@TheArtofGuitar]

takfam07 Thanks for this comment. I appreciate it.

[@jeffhodge7272]

I want to learn the entire Love Her All I Can solo SO bad.

[@elinzmeyer3550]

Refreshing to see the younger generation recognize the contribution Frehley made to guitar playing. In a world full of shredders, the fundamentals are also worth a look. Many have picked up a guitar because of his playing and the mystique of Kiss. Any chance of covering that Frehley chop in the 100,000 years solo?

[@icemediapro]

Ace Frehley is probably the best guitarist in rock ‘n’ roll history that nobody talks about everything so melodic everything has purpose he is the greatest

[@tpr5208]

9:50 "That'll lead to other licks, of course. They always do." That off handed comment is the most succinct description of Ace's style that we'll ever hear. Great video, and nice work copping Ace's feel.

[@hkguitar1984]

Ace Frehley was my favorite growing up too and the reason I started playing (I started playing guitar in 1974). Why I think it's so easy to play the riffs of your first and favorite artist is that you've listened to the Artist's work so often you don't need to memorize the riff in your head before learning it, it's already there imprinted from back in your youth. As such, memorizing the piece your learning is half the battle. Start off with that portion already completed and you're half way there. Great content and lesson, thank you.

[@TrishaAyshe]

I don't even play guitar but I really enjoyed watching this because I adore Ace so much. I'm a 70s baby and he was my first guitar hero. 🖤🚀

[@davetaperek2206]

Short of Ace's "behind the player," probably the Best lesson on the Spaceman's style - KUDOS!!

[@donallfinn]

Ace Frehley is the reason I STILL play guitar....I'm sorry but by any criteria that matters, I say Ace Frehley is the greatest lead guitar player of all time. I've told the story before, but there is NO OTHER GUITAR PLAYER, I have ever seen or heard of that had an arena of 20,000 people singing along with every guitar solo for an entire show. On the KISS 96' reunion tour I watched it first hand. Don't know how often it happened, but that night it did...gives me chills just thinking about it, those solos were imprinted so deeply in the minds of the people there that they could sing them like a chorus (or do their best impression of it) show me one other guitar player who wields that kind of power and I'll concede that Ace has an equal.

[@jeffhodge7272]

That's one of the things Slash stated about Ace. Solos you can mimick with your mouth and that stick with you forever. 🤟👍

[@edwardkennedy5500]

I witnessed the same in Johnson City, TN! Still get goosebumps thinking of it.

[@godoftone]

Great point #Terrible.dee. But I'll take that challenge and offer Mr. David Gilmour of Pink Floyd. I've seen them twice and experienced the same thing you mentioned when Dave breaks into 'Wish You Were Here' and 'Comfortably Numb'. The crowd sings along with those solos as if they were lyrics. And yes, it's amazing to hear 25,000 people doing it at the same time. Cheers.

[@ZipZopZipZop]

Og fool for your lovin solo stuck in my brain for 4 decades, till I couldn't remember where this melody in my head come from, rediscovered it, and was really taken back. Yes I grew up listening to kiss, I was always Ace for 3 holoweens. Was so into Ace, I had all the same ( obvious) short commings...😅

[@silverbane5008]

You can easily see Dimebag was no kidding when he said he's a fan of Ace Frehley...

[@jackstonge]

LOL

[@Prof_Tickles92]

Ace was literally his biggest inspiration.

[@domdom9496]

1:26 timed trills (Strutter), 2:18 BEND BRATO big slow bend up then with fast vibrato and back to big slow bend up in time, 3:22 very slow pre bend 'CRYING', 4:20 STACCATO RELEASE SLOW BEND thumb-stop then down-up plec attack, 5:05 pentatonic flutters Hammer-pull to next string, 6:16 unison bends (find the same note on the other string), 7:17 double platinum pull off (triplet double pull offs same string) …..8:07 ACE MOTIFS Chuck Berry bends roll barr, 9:06, 9:57 : Slash-Berry, 10: 30 the 1 4 barred triplet hammer-pull off 2 bottom strings, 11:22 Slash skip string, 11:33 Ace's "Slash skip" but he bends 3$ and hits 1$ 12:29 staccato thumbstop thumbmute all strings(?) walkdown , 13:36 country note 6th interval slides key note 1$ e.g. 5fret so 3$ 6 fret--- 1$ 7 and 3$7, 1$ 9 3$9, 15:58 whole step and half bend Am pent key B10,

[@erixonline]

@6:17 - unison bends ... I've had such a hard time doing this bend, now you teach me to use two fingers ... what an 'a-ha moment' - nice to meet another player that respects the techniques of the mighty Ace Frehley! @Martin Smith ... me too. My brother brought home KISS ALIVE from Japan in 1979, and I swore Ace was talking to me through his guitar. Started playing then and even have a guitar tattoo with 'ACE' in the middle of it.

[@thebluesrockers]

Mike, Not only do you give kicks ass lessons, but you seem to be a really cool guy. I hope everything is going good for you. Thanks for all your time and effort teaching these. Peace.. Joe

[@domdom9496]

16:56 one hammer then big bend shake, 18:13 half step bend ie blue note bend G$, 19:42 Single string scale descending run 21:22 pentatonic triplet pull-off 5 3 to the open string e.g.to the open G$ if you're in key of G , 22:05 6 3 open triplet pull off, 23:10 E16 12 pull off raise pinky to 17th; move down do same D then C i.e. follow the chords 25:00 climb the pentatonic in fast 3s; 8 5 8, next $5, back to original 8 so on.

[@spryerz1614]

practicing ACE'S solos made me a better and more confident player, very cool stuff, always like great instructional vids

[@budgetguitarist]

Excellent job. Like many here, Ace was the guy who made me want to learn electric guitar. I found guitarists later that I liked better, but there's a lot of Ace in my own playing - I mean a LOT. I had the smoking guitar poster on my wall. Thanks for the trip down memory lane!

[@buddhull]

My favorite Ace Frehley trick that I use is to play something I’ve played a million times, make it sound great, then say “I don’t know what the hell I’m doing”

[@jamiemcparland]

You killed it! So crazy to hear all that stuff broken down after a lifetime of listening to Kiss!

[@briankoncyk3379]

Great job showing some of one of the greatest guitarists trademark lead licks! Enjoyed and Thanks for sharing. Ace ROCK'S!

[@acerob7173]

this is the most seriuos and complete review on Ace's Liks ever. really good job! It tooks me 2 years to learn many of them but still struggling on others and this video will helps a lot. thanks!

[@roberttullos9334]

Actually Ace has lessons of a lot of his music on here. I like to get it straight from the man himself.

[@MobiusBandwidth]

Ace influenced thousands of people to take up playing guitar, this alone makes him one of the most significant figures in 20th century music. his solos were melodic, they always fit the song, and you could whistle or hum them. he is namechecked by a plethora of contemporary guitarists as an influence and inspiration, but still in general underappreciated for his contributions. he recently said "If I'd known I was going to influence thousands of guitarists I would have practiced more!" lol. but if he had been flashier he might not have been as interesting. J. Mascis of Dinosaur JR said Ace has a tremolo like no one else. and he's no slouch!

[@laurenwerlang]

i realized now that ace guitar style is kinda "sexy"! it's like when you feel pleasure in slowing down things to really feel it!

[@ixa-3140]

That's rock and roll honey

[@jessiegarcia8166]

WOW....YOU JUST TOUCHED ON THAT ACE FREHLEY MOJO THAT NO OTHER GUITARIST WILL EVER COME CLOSE TO EXPRESSING. BOY DO I MISS HIM NOT BEING ON THAT STAGE WITH THE OTHER FOUNDING 3 MEMBERS. THANKS FOR VOICING..🤟😝🤘💙🛸💙

[@donallfinn]

Great work!! You really have Ace's stuff down, and he is as worthy of study as any guitar player in history. As I've said before, he is THE ONLY guitarist for whom I have stood in an arena and heard 20,000 people singing along with every guitar solo, hearing a sold-out arena sing the "Deuce" solo note for note in 96' was one of the most amazing things I've ever seen at a concert. It really made me respect the power of KISS. I was amazed at how deeply ingrained the music was in the publics conciseness.

[@JDCUSA]

I admire your dedication to the guitar. You are very talented.

[@cirezetroc1905]

You kinda look like Ace w short hair. Great stuff man!!

[@meno3333]

Cire Zetroc I was thinking the exact same thing Bro.

[@evilxmetalband6532]

Cire Zetroc I was just thinking that ,he has the same eyes!

[@JDCUSA]

He looks a lot like John Cusak.

[@ambraalves7528]

Yes! you do resemble Ace! with his shorter KISS "Music from the Elder" Hairstyle!

[@johnnyrotten5507]

I agree - you were the dude who played guitar on "The Elder" 1981

[@uplaywithfire7564]

The solo off of kiss alive (100,000 years) is my fav ace Solo.

[@redwalrustmnc52]

THIS is exactly what I was thinking of yesterday and wished someone did a lesson on this. Thanks so much!!

[@kilgoretrout3966]

Hiya Walrus!

[@willchew4040]

ACE FOREVER!!!!!

[@ericdavis8875]

OMG OMG OMG! I AM UNDERSTANDING WHAT I'M HEARING IN SOLOS! (Jaw dropped and stary eyed) I'm really gonna cry...thanks man.

[@evilxmetalband6532]

ace made me start playing 30 years ago,this is the most helpful of all videos to me thank you for this!

[@drlectervhou8128]

I stopped playing guitar a long time ago to concentrate on classical piano but I LOVE these instructional vids ( so glad you did one on ACE) because I learn how to listen in NEW ways to these guitar Gods.

[@ShipmanPhotos]

Very cool. I'm a bass player in a KISS tribute band and really enjoyed seeing some of Acr's iconic licks broken down like this. really enjoying your channel as I try to build up my 6 string skill set for other projects. Thanks!

[@gwademiller]

I love how you described aces playing. Humble.

[@timjenkins502]

Ace is a very underrated player

[@DonnyHooterHoot]

Your guitar never burst into flame! Ace rulz! Thanks!

[@isaiahmarquez9717]

I discovered Ace Frehley in the mid 80’s when I first heard Destroyer. Then it was the live version of Rock and Roll All Nite on Headbangers Ball. I was hooked on his playing. I was already a Kiss fan from the first time I heard Asylum (2nd cassette I ever bought, 1st was Michael Jackson’s Thriller...hey...it was the 80’s). My Kiss knowledge started in the 80’s and went backwards to their 70’s stuff. Ace was a big reason for my picking up a guitar.

[@centurionmusic11]

Joe Perry, Jerry Cantrell, Billy Corgan, Jack White are all musts. Please do these!!

[@CC-qb9sm]

Such a great lesson here Mike! Your channel is fantastic! Ace has influenced just about everybody in some way whether they know it or not!! Thanks for this great lesson and for all you do!

[@drftsnvk]

I was a HUGE KISS fan when I started playing ('74-'75) but I guess I didn't realize how much of my repertoire of riffs came from Ace until just now. Wow!

[@rayross997]

Thanks for this entire Guitar Techniques series, it is really eye opening & helpful. And just plain fun too!

[@momoney2720]

thanks for these lessons,by far the best ''how to''guitar lessons for my liking,been playing for 30 odd yrs,this has re lit my fire,cant beat Ace and Angus

[@renemies78]

Thank you so much for this video and the section on "Unison Bends". I've always loved this about Ace's playing but could never figure it out myself. Thank you!

[@LUKESTRONG4LIFE]

For me too, Ace was the main reason I started loving music and playing guitar!!!!

[@biloneil5259]

Dude - great lesson! Talking about strings taking a beating, picking like you want to slice the string in half... great insight into Ace's technique.

[@Dave-Rough-Diamond-Dunn]

As a kid it was easy to go from 50s rock* to Kiss, mostly because of Ace's solos being so reminiscent of Chuck Berrys' style. *Although born in 1970, at a young age I was given a stack of old 50s records and a radiogram, it kept me occupied for years!

[@robbyclark6915]

Ace is one of the greatest ever! Don’t believe me? Imagine life without his solos! Imagine Kiss without Ace! He wasn’t one of the technicians of guitars but as far as great sounding solos that fit the song and the mood perfectly, there’s no one better! And he had some killer, killer, chops! Not technical but killer sounding none the less! I remember being 10 years old and his leads just made the song! I loved his playing then and I love it still today at 52!

[@billb89]

He was and still is a great live performer.

[@dwellerstube]

Terrific video. I am looking forward to spending some real time learning all of these. Ace is one of those guys that when you hear play, you know it's him. Thanks for sharing. What are you playing through? I really like your tone too.

[@TheArtofGuitar]

79 Fender Deluxe Reverb, Dragoon Overdrive, and sometime compression. :)

[@dandakissisabelle]

My favorite guitar of all times!!!

[@lestercarvin4422]

My cousin Todd turned me unto Kiss Alive in 1975 and Ace has been a big influence on my guitar style. Great video

[@xander9564]

Great video, well demonstrated and explained. Ace's solos were so clever and melodic and badass!

[@pewsterbaby]

This is the instructive video I always wished someone would make! The "How To Play That Cool Shit Ace Comes Up With" lesson! Thank you!

[@pillarofdavidson]

I love me them tasty licks! KISS and Ace were hugely influentual on my playing. Keep it coming bro. Loving these videos!

[@Not1But2Fresh]

YOUR A GREAT GUITAR PLAYER BRO!!!!

[@graeme1744]

I never new you loved Ace frehley so much. You have my respect

[@shanegautier5296]

Amazing!!! I could only dream to play like you. God Bless You 🐰

[@comatoo]

2:31 and 2:44 - your fast vibrato is amazing - totally Ace level!

[@ZenTheMusician]

I'll have to say that even at a very young age I noticed that Ace "borrowed" a lot of Jimmy Page, but he did it well and he didn't clone licks. He made it his own style. He's one of the coolest rock icons in history. Love me some Ace.

[@russblack443]

He is the first one to say that himself. He said seeing Zeppelin open up for iron butterfly at the Fillmore east changed his playing style. Let me go rock and roll sounds as if Jimmy Page could be playing it

[@nameless76mozwhaz9]

great lesson I have used some of these techniques before but having you explain them made a big difference in my approach to them...thank you sir!

[@CC-qb9sm]

This is the mother of all lessons!

[@dinmentor]

Great lesson, thank you for this!

[@leswadley6792]

Ace is the reason I can’t play lol! I play like him, everyone says ace can’t play so there you go! All jokes, Jimi Hendrix is in my opinion the best and is my favorite guitar player, but ace is my hero! I’d never got into music without kiss and ace!

[@lisag18]

Scotty Moore (early Elvis guitarist) and Chuck Berry simultaneously then Ace brought my guitar playing up 12 levels. I was mesmerized by Ace's talent

[@007tortuga]

Amazing work. This is the best breakdown I’ve ever seen put together. Thanx Bud “ keep this going. You will be appreciated. Peace Out ✌️. Ace High

[@MrTonyMoore]

Love your teaching style

[@MrBrymstond]

Ace Frehley is my single most favorite, it doesn't have to be the hardest, but it has to drive you up the wall. I was a kid and I heard KISS on the radio debut and got a guitar. There's something special about that band, when you have that chemistry, all band members need to get over themselves and work it out no matter the issue. No Matter!

[@jafl2183]

I met Ace and thanked him...he saved my life

[@rodneybrimer1712]

Great video. Great examples of the style of Ace! Enjoyed!

[@stanfordyoung2470]

Thanks for Ace F's Guitar Techniques

[@josephgilbert3632]

25:00 - It's "Love Gun".

[@shamusokingsley2412]

Thank you, these are awesome Ace licks! Love your guitar/amp tone, it's perfect.

[@TimothyIha]

Speaking as a huge Ace fan and mediocre guitar player, thanks for this video! You made easy to watch and play.

[@DSpeir-pi6tm]

That's a really nice tobacco sunburst Les Paul . I was about 15 when I first started getting good on guitar . A couple of my friends told me that I sounded like Ace . I wasn't deliberately trying to copy him, but I new a few of his lick and liked to us them . Like the ones you're demonstrating in your video . I really liked Kiss back then and still do . Thanks for all the great video's I enjoy watching them .

[@flensi]

My favorite guitarist. The one and only Spaceman.

[@GhostriderPossum]

My first Guitar Hero...

[@TommySG1]

I dig your lessons, thanks! For whatever reason I wasn't subscribed, must've forgot, thanks again, good stuff. 🤙

[@mikedeverna8276]

Ace is still kicking ass his originals are awesome and Ace was underrated severally underrated and he was the sound that drove KISS on the 70s my first concert was 1978 kiss seattle with my dad I won tickets from KISW for being 9th caller with the correct trivia answer and it's a time never to forget my dad with Gene Simmons and him towering over dad with his tongue wagging over him. Picture in my safety deposit box for my grandson.

[@JohanSegeborn]

Thanks, great video!

[@MatthewCanadian24]

Going to my first ever kiss show in april!!!❤❤❤❤❤ i love everything about ace ...im actully going to the show with his makeup on

[@catsofsherman1316]

nice lesson. I do almost all those things and frequently unconsciously. KISS was the first band I listened to. your video did a nice job of showing the way ace differentiated himself from Hendrix, Clapton, and Page who were obviously his prime sources.

[@louism8217]

Six years after you posted this, but man have I destroyed a ton of picks playing like Ace! And a couple of weeks away from new Ace too! So looking forward to getting 10,000 Volts!

[@mick_c_horror_and_pop_culture]

Ace Frehley is so underrated

[@comatoo]

Would you consider making a Neil GIraldo techniques video or even a Jeff Beck techniques video?

[@codeviolation69]

I really enjoyed that. Nice job dude.

[@jamestavares8072]

great lesson! how about the tremolo picking in the first phrase of the black diamond (after the unison bends) great technique

[@TheArtofGuitar]

I love that people know about Black Diamond! Good call.

[@facurojas4477]

Ace Frehley: The One And The Only

[@SweetPablo972]

“I don’t really know what to call some of this stuff.” That was great.

[@carlryderiselvis]

Beautiful tone...

[@pauldunlea3669]

You play Ace's riffs great !

[@realmichaeltian]

gotta love them unison bends

[@danieltelecaster7040]

Not too far off to say that Ace Frehley was one of the most influential guitarists in the 70's. For better or worse (I say better- I loved Kiss), Kiss made a huge impression on tons of kids because of their stage act, make-up, and personalities. Alot of those kids started off remembering and playing Ace licks.

[@ElliotRose]

Daniel Telecaster as a kid in the 70's I remember KISS as a bunch of comic book superhero rock stars. They had this whole mystique because of the makeup and the firebreathing. They made rock music a real spectacle.

[@joewalsh8217]

I clicked this outta curiosity and was blown away by your vibrato

[@bradsherron174]

Makes sense, Dime loved Ace and this has alot of the sounds Dime infused into his style.

[@davidrapant6398]

Ace is from that Chuck Berry 50's 60's school of rock and roll playing. He's awesome cause he took those influences and created his own style. He is a great player to draw those classic licks from that you can use in practically any rock song and sound authentic. He is definitely a feel player and he goes effortlessly from lick to lick and is a hell of a Live player. He had the look and the moves for playing Live with Kiss. I went to the 2000ish reunion tour and I couldn't take my eyes off Ace with those cool stage moves. Smoking guitar and everything and he sounded great. That was before all the backing tracks BS.

[@bartsympson3824]

Thanks for enunciating & expaciating on what's so COSMI-CEBTEICAK about music!

[@bartsympson3824]

.cosmi-centrifyshick about musica (I meant)